Manna hotel: Historic sanatorium in Greek mountain forest
Architectural firms K-Studio and Monogon from Greece transformed the shuttered Manna Sanatorium in southern Greece’s Arcadia region into an opulent forest Manna hotel.
Constructed in the 1920s with the intention of providing tuberculosis patients with access to the restorative properties of nature, the historic building is currently a five-star wellness retreat.
Manna has 32 rooms with neutral décor and natural materials, as well as a restaurant serving regional food, a spa, and a fitness center.
The tallest point in the mountainous area, Mount Mainalo, is home to the building, which is situated inside a fir forest.
The goal of K-Studio’s design was to strengthen the sense of connectedness to nature and the sensation of sanctuary provided by the isolated location. The studio is located in Athens.
Furthermore, Owner of Manna Stratis Batayas, a Greek businessman who grew up summering in the region, set out to create a year-round destination that was authentic to the building’s past.
According to K-Studio’s design statement, “the client’s ambition was to reinterpret the concept of a sanctuary in the mountains with contemporary terms.”
“The hotel would have to be a place for isolation, as well as community-making and participation in the primary activities of everyday living.”
The major building work, which included rebuilding a dilapidated back wing and installing a new roof, was managed in conjunction with Monogon, an Athens-based company.
The sanatorium had been cleared out in order to prevent looting when it closed in 1938, when penicillin became available, rendering it obsolete.
The original roof was taken off and used on a hospital in neighboring Tripoli. Also, the stone window sills were removed and transferred.
The ancient sills were replaced with concrete, and rendered brickwork was covered with a new timber roof.
An additional entry on the side of the building is made possible by a redesigned plan.
Moreover, This opens up into a succession of refined lounge and reception areas with curved corner reveals on columns, elaborate gridded ceilings, and a fireplace with a herringbone pattern.
This is also the location of Manna’s bar, which has well-crafted joinery. In another location, the open kitchen of chef Athinagoras Kostakos creates a more relaxed atmosphere.
There are pieces by Greek artist Nikos Kanoglou, painter Joanna Burtenshaw, and ceramicist throughout.
All levels of the renovated northern wing and the top stories of the main structure. Also, including the new attic level, contain bedrooms.
Moreover, The most contemporary sense can be found in attic rooms. Additionally, it opens to balconies enclosed by massive dormers with gable ends.
Earth-toned fabrics and brushed timber are combined in the materials palette. One of the most notable aspects is the ornate privacy screens that serve as the beds’ backdrop.
Marble inlays set into terrazzo floors demarcate distinct areas and complement the stone used in washbasins. The floor surfaces in front of each room door have room numbers engraved into them.
“Local craftsmen were involved in all construction phases, as they bear the knowhow of stoneworks, joinery and even the characteristic engraved grouting of the exterior stonewalls,” stated K-Studio.
Manna is a booking organization that specializes in design-led getaways, and it was founded in the summer of 2023. Design Hotels is Manna’s representative.
According to him, Manna hotel design “embraces the wear and tear, embraces the natural patina”.
“When we first arrived we saw something, which took about a century to make,” he explained. “We wanted to preserve its history without going overboard with our cleaning. It was more crucial that we accept the entire narrative.”
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